Plug Power lands three firsts for industrial-scale green hydrogen

Turnkey hydrogen solution supplier Plug Power Inc. announced it has landed three electrolyzer projects in what it said represents the first-ever use of industrial-scale green hydrogen in glass manufacturing, aluminum recycling and steel manufacturing processes. Plug’s 5 MW containerized proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers offer a turnkey system with a production capacity of more than 2 tons per day, the company stated.

(Source: Plug Power)

The first of the three projects is to supply an electrolyzer to Ardagh Glass Limmared AB, Gothenburg, Sweden, the only glass packaging producer in the Nordics and a supplier to Sweden’s most popular spirits company. Ardagh plans to produce 2.1 metric tons per day (TPD) of green hydrogen by the end of 2023, replacing a portion of the natural gas it currently uses while reducing overall carbon emissions at the plant. Hydroelectric power will be used to generate hydrogen from the electrolyzer.

The second electrolyzer project is with Hydro Havrand, a new unit of aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA, to help facilitate decarbonization of its aluminum recycling plant in Hoyanger, Norway. Hydro will employ the 5 MW electrolyzer module by June 2024 and begin displacing the natural gas currently used in the plant’s burner with 2.1 metric TPD of green hydrogen.

Plug will also work with systems integrator APEX Group, Bremen, Germany, to demonstrate the feasibility of producing green steel at ArcelorMittal’s local blast furnaces. Plug will deliver two 5 MW electrolyzer modules with a capacity to produce 4.2 metric TBD of green hydrogen to SWB, the city’s public utility company, by the end of the year.

“Plug is breaking new ground with this series of industry firsts that validate our vision to scale the green hydrogen economy,” said Plug CEO Andy Marsh. “We were bold enough to design and build the industry’s first 5MW electrolyzer module, and customers are now clambering for its holistic, compact, easy to install features.”